[stook2001]

First post and new to XBMC so please be easy on me. I am fairly certain that I am going to re-purpose and enhance an existing build for use as an XBMC machine.

Goals:
1. Play HD content locally with a bluray drive
2. Stream HD content over network via gigabit
3. Relatively quiet machine
4. Aesthetically pleasing
5. High(ish) WAF factor, probably an issue with Win7, I realize
6. Limited or non-use of keyboard
7. Stream flac content via gigabit

For now will probably run XBMC over a Win7 64 Ultimate environment. This could change in the future but I am not particularly comfortable with Linux administration, which is concerning for me with the non-Windows alternatives.

What I have right now:
1. Asus P5N7A-VM w/ Intel E8200 proc. Has onboard GeForce 9300 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813131348
2. 4g of RAM
3. OCZ Fatality 400w PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product
4. 2tb WD Green, 2tb Samsung F-series
5. A couple of older optical drives, a bunch of other smallish 3.5" and 2.5" hard disks
6. Very large Lian-Li HTPC case, which I would like to replace since it is too large for my rack.

Current Thoughts:
1. I'd like a new case and am currently eying the Ebay Silverstone LC-02 clone here: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Mini-ITX-Case-w-...5d293bcfe7
I am also considering something like the nMediaPC HTPC case since it offers more space for internal drives. Build quality seems poor and much bigger footprint than the ebay case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

2. The stock Intel CPU cooler is fairly loud. Any good, compact, quiet, inexpensive cpu cooling options?

3. I'd like to purchase a bluray reader. Is it possible to play a bluray from the optical reader via XBMC? I realize that XBMC itself doesnt support bluray but how seamless is the integration to a 3rd party reader software? What happens when I stop the movie or the movie ends? Do I automatically end up back in XBMC or am I in Win7 land? Any hardware/software recommendations for the bluray optical drive? Am I better off just getting a dedicated bluray player? Somewhat interested in backing up my blurays on the network, which is part of the motivation for the drive.

4. What are the pros/cons of using the XBMC machine as both a media server for other network clients as well as for broadcasting to my home theater system (ie. versus two separate machines, one being a network file/media server, the second being the xbmc machine)?

5. I realize that this is somewhat of a controversial topic, but what are the best inexpensive options for a remote control. I read about the Generic HP IR receivers from ebay. What do I need here? Will I need a wireless keyboard? Is there maybe some kind of mini qwerty remote/keyboard perhaps? I do have an Android EVO4g so that could also be an option.

Not to throw a complete wrench into the above but I have also debated building a small scale inexpensive dedicated machine using something like the AMD Sempron 140 with a hopefully unlocked 2nd core for $37. A ~$50ish AM3 motherboard (ie. one of the biostars). Perhaps the passively cooled GT430 video card. Some memory and (for now) one of my spare 2.5" laptop drives running the Ebay case mentioned above. This could probably be done for around $250ish including the new bluray drive. Just a cheap alternative to reconfiguring the existing machine.

Thanks for your feedback! Amazed at XBMC. Great software!

[eskro]

#1
your ebay case is a mini ITX case....
i personally would go with the nMEDIAPC 1000B --> http://ow.ly/1rZJQY
its on sale right now and it from a company thats been in HTPC for years!!

#2
dont know much about coolers since i never had loud coller problems....
and when i watch a movie, i dont hear nothing else than the movie...

#3
XBMC can read commercial BD movies but
with the help of ANYDVD HD...
this BD-drive is a sweet deal at $49.99 --> http://ow.ly/1rZHiL
burns DVDs too,,,,

#4
you want to have a centralize storage place
where HTPCs and other PCs could access....
A Popular solution here is the FreeNAS one.....
check on youtube for explanations --> http://ow.ly/1rZJQw
it rocks!! and its free!

#5
best remote really depends on what you like...
i personally dont use a remote yet, but if i would,
i would buy this one --> http://ow.ly/1rZJN2
it has wii-like point and play sensor controls!!!
and has a keyboard for typing which looks amazing!!

Final thoughts....
you could go the cheap route here....
an AMD athlon X2 processor can be found for only
$56 on newegg.com --> http://ow.ly/1rZJQC
XBMC will run smooth!!
and memory these days is so cheap!!
you can buy fast memory for $40 --> http://ow.ly/1rZJQU

[stook2001]

Hi Eskro, many thanks for your assistance.

#1
your ebay case is a mini ITX case....
i personally would go with the nMEDIAPC 1000B....
nice quality from a company thats been in HTPC for awhile!!

There are a few different nMediaPC cases that all could work, including the 1000b. That having been said, the ebay case does fit both microATX and full ATX apparently. That is specified in the text of the listing and also mentioned on various forum posts about the case. Why the reluctance to go with the ebay case? Anything I should know? At $40 shipped with a PSU it seems like a nice deal compared with nMediaPC, which has all kinds of build quality shadyness from what I have read.

#3
XBMC can read commercial BD movies but
with the help of ANYDVD HD...
this BD-drive is a sweet deal at $49.99 --> http://ow.ly/1rZHiL
burns DVDs too,,,,

Thank you, I will have to read up on the AnyDVD setup. I was not aware of that feature and it sounds like a superior solution to running something like CyberDVD from Win7. Also, thank you for the link.

#4
you want to have a centralize storage place
where HTPCs and other PCs could access....
A Popular solution here is the FreeNAS one.....
check on youtube for explanations --> http://ow.ly/1rZJQw
it rocks!! and its free!

I am aware of FreeNAS. Can you elaborate on the need for a networked storage solution? As I mentioned, I am not necessarily averse to this approach but I want to understand what are the downsides of keeping my media storage local to the HTPC box.

#5
best remote really depends on what you like...
i personally dont use a remote yet, but if i would,
i would buy this one --> http://ow.ly/1rZJN2
it has wii-like point and play sensor controls!!!
and has a keyboard for typing which looks amazing!!

I will check that out. Sounds intriguing. Thank you again.

Final thoughts....
you could go the cheap route here....
an AMD athlon X2 processor can be found for only $56 on newegg.com
XBMC will run smooth!!
and memory these days si cheap!!
you can fast memory for ~$30...

As I mentioned, I might roll the dice on a sempron in the hopes of unlocking the 2nd core, which most people seem able to do. It is a few bucks cheaper than the Athlon.

[poofyhairguy]

1. I'd like a new case and am currently eying the Ebay Silverstone LC-02 clone here: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Mini-ITX-Case-w-...5d293bcfe7

For Micro ATX if you want it to be quiet at all you need a larger case with 120mm fans like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811163166

If that is unappealing then honestly you can repurpose your current system to be a server and get a cheap ION system for your other needs.

2. The stock Intel CPU cooler is fairly loud. Any good, compact, quiet, inexpensive cpu cooling options?

Pick a case first, then we go for HSFs.

3. I'd like to purchase a bluray reader. Is it possible to play a bluray from the optical reader via XBMC? I realize that XBMC itself doesnt support bluray but how seamless is the integration to a 3rd party reader software? What happens when I stop the movie or the movie ends? Do I automatically end up back in XBMC or am I in Win7 land? Any hardware/software recommendations for the bluray optical drive? Am I better off just getting a dedicated bluray player? Somewhat interested in backing up my blurays on the network, which is part of the motivation for the drive.

Honestly I think playing Blu Rays and Netflix are the two biggest lacking parts of XBMC right now. Using the Windows build with third party software it can kinda work, but it isn't as wife friendly as you want it to be.

Either buy a stand alone Blu Ray player, or get a BDRom for you desktop/server and start ripping the disks to a NAS. That is basically what we all do here- play local files of HD content. Its easy as there are no disks to lose or get scratched. Wife clicks play on pretty interface, and it plays. Whole point of XBMC.

4. What are the pros/cons of using the XBMC machine as both a media server for other network clients as well as for broadcasting to my home theater system (ie. versus two separate machines, one being a network file/media server, the second being the xbmc machine)?

1. The heat of playing 1080p mingling with HD heat either means this monster HTPC+NAS is either loud with fans or it is killing hard drives.

2. By having a dedicated server you can run server specific software like Unraid that are incompatible with HTPCs.

3. By having a dedicated server it can do other things such as autodownload the TV shows and movies you want.

4. By having a dedicated server, you can have just a small (and COMPLETELY silent) frontend in the livingroom that the wife likes and your ears like.

5. By having a dedicated server you can easily support multiple clients and have a single non-HTPC source for MySQL if you want mulitiroom synchronization (aka pause in one room and start in another)

5. I realize that this is somewhat of a controversial topic, but what are the best inexpensive options for a remote control.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

Or a HP IR receiver and a Logitech harmony (most wife friendly option).

Not to throw a complete wrench into the above but I have also debated building a small scale inexpensive dedicated machine

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

For your needs, if you rip Blu Rays and have a dedicated server, this fanless (and therefore SILENT) HTPC barebones (add SSD and RAM) could do everything you want. Everything. I promise. It will play every Blu Ray rip on the planet and with XBMC Live it will be an easily to use appliance.

Or you can build another Mini ITX or Micro ATX system and make it fanless too (this is what I have actually) but that will cost more for more benefit such as gaming.

[eskro]

that ebay case doesnt have FANS inside so you'll need to be some to keep it cooL...
so hit adds up $$$....
not sure it can hold MicroATX....
states mini ITX.... --> New Mini ITX Case w/ 220 Watt Power Black Case + cables
be careful ,,,, that power supply much be amazingly cheap and will fail ,,,
underpowered too,, i would use that for sure,,,,

you can use external applications for playing Blurays...
Like POWERDVD or TOTAL MEDIA THEATER....
but since XBMC 10.0, you can read Bluray discs...
and anyways, either way, you'll need ANYDVD HD to remove copy protections.....
it just sits in your system tray, wating for a Bluray to be inserted in your Drive....
then once inserted, it removes the copy protections in background and
you can then do whatever you want with your movie...
backup/rip/whatever,,, its unlocked,,,,

if you know what FreeNAS is and dont need it,,,
then dont....
im just saying, thats a sweet solution to feed multiple HTPC's around your house....

and that wii-like point and play sensor remote looks amazing!!

dont go the sempron way.... its the dirty cheap-a** AMD CPU...
get a real ATHLON X2 for $56....

[stook2001]

Hi Eskro, thanks again for your comments. I figured out the source of the confusion on the ebay case. That guy has 2 separate listings for his case one of which comes bundled with an optical drive that I dont need. The bundled listing shows the detail about the MicroATX and ATX fitment. Check it out: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Mini-ITX-Case-w-...1c133c1354

From what I have read, the case comes with a silverstone brand psu. Not sure how accurate that is but that is what I have seen on other forums (will track down link). I could also use the OCZ400w power supply in my current box, which is pretty quiet. In addition, I have a couple of big fans in the Lian Li case that could be used. Anyway, not necessary sold on this option but it does have its appeal as a bargain case solution.

Just curious about your Sempron vs. Athlon point. For $37 with likely unlocked dual core... It is an Athlon II X2 and reports to CPU-Z as a 4400e, which has a passmark CPU mark of 1697 (right in line with the $55-60 dual core athlon 2's). Not a huge savings but I am cheap and $20 is $20.

that ebay case doesnt have FANS inside so you'll need to be some to keep it cooL...
so hit adds up $$$....
not sure it can hold MicroATX....
states mini ITX.... --> New Mini ITX Case w/ 220 Watt Power Black Case + cables
be careful ,,,, that power supply much be amazingly cheap and will fail ,,,
underpowered too,, i would use that for sure,,,,

you can use external applications for playing Blurays...
Like POWERDVD or TOTAL MEDIA THEATER....
but since XBMC 10.0, you can read Bluray discs...
and anyways, either way, you'll need ANYDVD HD to remove copy protections.....
it just sits in your system tray, wating for a Bluray to be inserted in your Drive....
then once inserted, it removes the copy protections in background and
you can then do whatever you want with your movie...
backup/rip/whatever,,, its unlocked,,,,

if you know what FreeNAS is and dont need it,,,
then dont....
im just saying, thats a sweet solution to feed multiple HTPC's around your house....

and that wii-like point and play sensor remote looks amazing!!

dont go the sempron way.... its the dirty cheap-a** AMD CPU...
get a real ATHLON X2 for $56....

[eskro]

well if you feel ok with it, thats what it counts....

PC CASE --> Pixxo MicroATX 450W ($38) http://ow.ly/1rZK7O (comes in black too)

[stook2001]

Ok, did a bunch more reading on that case. Don't like it anymore. Runs too hot and can't handle a full video card without some modding. Not going to work for me. Looking at some of the silverstones and nmediapc cases again. Bummer.

[User 82703]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-003-_-Product

Or a HP IR receiver and a Logitech harmony (most wife friendly option).

Do all of these MCE remotes work in XBMC Linux as well?

Asked another way, is there an easy way to get remote support in Linux without LIRC and all that stuff?

[eskro]

nope

[poofyhairguy]

Asked another way, is there an easy way to get remote support in Linux without LIRC and all that stuff?

LIRC is needed, but if you get the right remote (as in the exact remote I recommend) then it is plug and play in XBMC Live. No need for configuration.

[User 82703]

LIRC is needed, but if you get the right remote (as in the exact remote I recommend) then it is plug and play in XBMC Live. No need for configuration.

Is it also plug and play in the Ubuntu XBMC install?

[poofyhairguy]

Is it also plug and play in the Ubuntu XBMC install?

Plug in play in XBMC Live, but not plug and play with regular ubuntu.